Jockey has big finale

STOCKTON - Jockey Juan Hernandez was the big winner on the final day of the San Joaquin County Fair on Sunday.

Stephen Roberson

STOCKTON - Jockey Juan Hernandez was the big winner on the final day of the San Joaquin County Fair on Sunday.

Over the final five races, Hernandez won twice and finished second twice. He rode Big Liberty to an easy victory in the $8,500 fifth race and won the $8,500 ninth - and final race of this year's fair - with a strong finish on East From West.

Hernandez was second aboard Angel of Mystery in eighth race and on Birdie Girl in the sixth.

Jockey Tyler Kaplan, riding Infinity N' Beyond, jumped out to an early lead in the five furlong sixth race with an $8,000 purse and held on for his only win of the day.

"She came out of the gate like a rocket," Kaplan said. "She settled in nicely and kept the same pace the entire race.

"That wasn't really the plan to grab the lead early like that, but nobody else went out front. She jumped out so fast, I figured no harm, no foul."

Barrington Harvey, who won the five-furlong second race aboard Cruising By, didn't have the same advantage at the start. Well back of the lead through the final turn, Cruising By quickly caught the leader, French Beat, and pulled out the win.

"I was third or fourth through the turn," Harvey said. "I knew he had the kick. I ride him all the time. I've won a couple races with him and finished second. He did real good. I was in striking distance (coming out of the turn), but I didn't know if I'd catch (the leader) or not."

Many in the near capacity crowd said the decision by the fair's board of directors' to offer free admission this year was the reason they showed up on Father's Day. Others have been coming for years.

Michael Paul Morones, 35, of Stockton attended races on both Saturday and Sunday. He said he has been coming to the track every year for more than 30 years.

"I always throw down a couple bets," he said. "You bet on the ponies, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. But it's great family fun."